Anthony and Irene Solesky, along with their attorney Kevin Dunne, speak to reporters after today's hearing. Anthony Solesky hopes lawmakers focus on people attacked by pit bulls and not just pit bull owners. Download This File

Attorney Kevin Dunne shows reporters photos of the injuries suffered by Dominic Solesky in a pit bull attack in 2007. (Photo by WBALs' Robert Lang)

Aileen Gabbey of the Maryland SPCA and Jennifer Brause of BARCS also testified today. Download This File

A legislative task force studying pit bulls continue held its first meeting today in Annapolis.

The task force of ten lawmakers was formed after an April decision by the Maryland Court of Appeals which ruled pit bulls were an "inherently dangerous" breed, and the dog's owners and their landlords would automatically be responsible for any damage or injuries the dogs may cause.

Animal rights advocates fear a number of dogs will be abandoned and euthanized as a result of the decision.

They want lawmakers to approve a bill to bar the state, or any local jurisdiction, from declaring any dog breed "dangerous" or banning any breed. A pit bull ban currently exists in Prince George's County.

The task force also heard from the family of Dominic Solesky, the Towson 10-year-old who was seriously injured in a pit bull attack in 2007.

The Solesky family was the defendants in the case heard by the Court of Appeals

Solesky's parents took issue with the amount of attention pit bull owners have received from lawmakers.

"What is most difficult for me is to be minimized." Anthony Solesky, Dominic's father told the committee.

Solesky's wife, and Dominic's mother, Irene also testified that dog owners should be held responsible

"I almost lost my son that day, and that's something that needs to be recognized, loud and clear," Irene Solesky told lawmakers.

"I'm the one who had to see my son in that alley, and it did not symbolize a dog attack. It was a shark attack."

Some of the pit bull owners and animal rights activists who attended the hearing, said they were sympathetic with the Solesky family, but feel that the state should not single out pit bulls, and pit bull owners for liability.

"The problem is owners that are irresponsible that create irresponsible dogs. You have to go after the owners that don't treat their dogs properly, that don't raise their dogs properly," pit bull owner Bill Cook of Pikesville told WBAL News.

Operators of some animal shelters say the court's decision has already led to a number of dog owners giving up their dogs for fear of eviction.

Jennifer Brause, executive director of the Baltimore Animal Rescue and Care Shelter (BARCS), told WBAL News that her shelter has received 17 pit bulls and other dogs from owners who were told they would be evicted if they did not give up their dogs.

"They were distraught as they gave up their dogs," Brause said.

She added added that number would likely increase through the summer, if lawmakers do not take any action to reverse this decision.

Some members of the task force believe that it will be difficult to enforce the Court of Appeals decision.

Montgomery County Democratic Delegate Ben Kramer, who is a member of the task force said that this decision could apply to any number of dogs, because there is no clear legal definition of a pit bull.

"Quite frankly, I have tried online to come to a conclusion as to what is a pit bull, much less a cross bred pit bull, and I have not been able to find anything beyond the fact that it is a generic reference, to many different potential breeds of dogs," Kramer said during the hearing.

The task force has already scheduled another meeting for next Tuesday to come up with recommendations, including possible liability limits, and possible legislation to require dogs be spayed or neutered before they are adopted.

A number of lawmakers, and animal rights advocates want the Maryland General Assembly to consider this issue if there is a special session next month to deal with expanded gambling.

Upper Eastern Shore Republican Delegate Michael Smigel, who co-sponsored pit bull legislation last month, said the bill would balance the interests of dog owners and victims of dog attacks.

He said there would be a "strict liability" provision in the bill that would hold dog owners responsible for injuries or damages caused by any breed of dogs.

There was some debate among lawmakers on whether that should apply to landlords, after executives from a number of property management companies told the panel that landlords should be exempt from liability of damages caused by the dogs of their tenants.

Baltimore City Delegate Curt Anderson, who was the House chairman of the task force, says committee is due to hold a work session Thursday. The task force is scheduled to issue their recommendations next Tuesday. However, Anderson notes that if there is no special session on gambling, it is likely the task force would continue their study through the summer, and lawmakers would consider the issue when their regular session begins in January.

Senators on the task force include Democrats Brian Frosh, Lisa Gladden, Jamie Raskin and Norman Stone, as well as Republican Joe Getty.

Delegates on the task force include Democrats Curt Anderson, Eric Bromwell, Ben Kramer, and Heather Mizeur, as well as Republican Michael Smigel.